Voith Hydro has successfully commissioned the second upgraded turbine unit at New Zealand’s Roxburgh Hydropower Station, marking the halfway point in a major modernization of the 1950s-era facility. The work is being carried out in partnership with Contact Energy.
The Roxburgh station, located on the Clutha River in Otago, originally housed eight 40 MW turbines. Four of these units are being replaced in phases to boost performance and extend the life of one of New Zealand’s most important hydroelectric assets.
Efficiency gains and faster installation
The second upgraded turbine was commissioned in mid-August 2025 following endurance testing. Drawing on lessons learned from the first upgrade completed in December 2024, Voith and its New Zealand subcontractors shortened on-site implementation by over a month. Testing earlier this year confirmed that the first new unit met all contractual performance guarantees.
“The upgraded turbines deliver higher output with the same water flow due to the significant increase in efficiency,” said Contact Energy’s Project Delivery Manager, Kirk Pritchard. “With two units operational, we’re on track to modernize this iconic piece of infrastructure that has powered New Zealand for over half a century.”
Next stages
The third turbine, manufactured at Voith’s facility in India, arrived in New Zealand at the end of August and will be installed after dismantling of the existing unit. Each new stainless-steel runner weighs 28.5 tonnes and measures 3.9 metres in diameter, designed to maximise energy output.
Raj Vidyarthi, Managing Director & CEO of Voith Hydro India, noted that the project demonstrates Voith’s ability to combine global manufacturing with local partnerships for successful execution.
